ORANGE — After arriving on the job late in the process a year ago, Mahar football coach Percy Eady spent the precious little time he had learning about his team and trying to find their strengths and weaknesses going into the 2023 season. 

Now with a year under his belt — along with taking a teaching position at the school — Eady and the Senators have been able to hit the ground running this year as they look to improve on a 4-7 season last fall. 

After an offseason that saw Mahar players put in the time and effort to get better, as well as a roster that returns numerous starters in key spots, watch for the Sens to take a step forward in 2024.

“The comfort level is through the roof right now,” Eady said. “Working for the school now and seeing these guys there, there’s a different accountability level and different respect level. I talked to these guys all through the end of the year so we had this all planned out. They had more organized captains’ practices and just from the additional work they put in during the offseason, it’s night and day to where we were last year.” 

That comfort level is something the players noted, as they have an understanding of the scheme and direction Eady is trying to bring them. 

Senior Malachi Grummell warned not to count Mahar out early, as he feels there’s a different energy with this team compared to Senator teams of the past. 

“I feel like it’s been going well,” Grummell said. “I feel like we’re underdogs and people don’t think we’re doing much. Honestly, we’re coming different this year. I think we’ll outperform what people think. I feel like we have a chance at playoffs. Last year, everyone is losing guys. We’ve been creeping for years and I feel like this is our year.”

Senior Jayden DiCato concurred, noting how much further along Mahar is now compared to where it was at this point last year.

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“We have guys who have played four years of varsity,” DiCato said. “We’re coming different this year. Day eight this year compared to day eight last year is two completely different things. We’re a much more developed team this year and in much better shape going into the season.”

Quarterback Morgan Softic returns under center for the Senators. Eady noted how much more comfortable his senior signal caller is with the system this year and is hoping to utilize his athleticism in the run game.

“Morgan is strides ahead of last year,” Eady said. “He’s understanding the read game a lot better and understands the things we can do and can’t do in a game. We just have to get our football right. Everyone plays Madden and everyone plays CFB25 but it’s never a perfect scenario. You have to know what you’re doing and what your team is capable of doing. If you’re a run team, run. He’s a great athlete. As much as I’d like to, we won’t be flinging it around the yard. We’ll use the things we’re good at.”

That run game will be the key for Mahar this fall, and they’ll have to do it without their top rusher from a season ago. Ronnie Stone was the Sens’ bellcow last year but suffered an injury late in the season and won’t be cleared to play this fall.

Grummell and Jayden Delgado, a fellow senior, are expected to step in and produce in the backfield, hoping to improve an offense that scored 12.7 points per game last fall. 

“Our run game will be a strength of ours this year,” Eady said. “They understand the scheme a lot better and it’s allowed me to do a lot more with the run game and not be so one dimensional.

“Malachi Grummell is looking like the strongest contender to help recover some of those yards [lost by Stone],” Eady added. “Jayden Delgado is a big, athletic kids who’s stepped in. Nobody can replace Ronnie but they’re doing a great job putting it together.”

On the outside, Carter Hardy and Danny Quigley are players Eady said have come in faster and stronger this year, both putting in the time to improve in the offseason.

The line will be led by DiCato, who is another player Eady had high praise for.

“Carter Hardy has had a heck of an offseason,” Eady said. “He’s come back bigger, faster, stronger at the receiver spot. Danny Quigley was a role player last year who will challenge for a receiver spot. He’s a fast kid. Jayden DiCato, I haven’t seen a lineman come a long way like that in a long time. He’s always been a strong lineman but he’s undoubtedly our best lineman this year.”

On the defensive side, Mahar allowed 24 points per game but had two shutouts on the season and held Northampton to just six points.

DiCato will be a factor on the line. Grummell and Delgado will center the defense at middle linebacker, Hardy will see reps at outside linebacker while Softic, Sean Ramos Jr. and Colby Chaisson will lead the secondary.

Creating turnovers was a key to the defense’s success last year, and Eady is hoping that can continue this season.

“Defensively we’re looking really good,” Eady said. “Last year one of our strengths was being able to create turnovers and I think we’re going to pick up right where we left off. We got a little bit younger on the defensive line but I think we got more athletic at defensive end so I think we’ll still be able to create havoc there.”

What will define a successful season in Orange?

“At the end of the day, we need to show improvement,” Eady said. “I’ve preached to them about one percent improvement. For me, I’d love for us to get to .500. Barring anything crazy and us being able to fend off the injury bug, I could see us being a couple games over .500. I honestly think we have the dogs to do it but we need to be able to fight off the dog days."

Mahar opens its season on Friday, hosting Drury at 7 p.m. at the Woodward Complex.